Today Jeff and I a were on a mission to get the basement cleaned and organized further. We did a lot of work on it this summer…putting in new wire metal shelving, having the walls and floor painted, installing lots of lighting and cleaning out a lot of the junk and stuff that we’ve been hanging onto, but don’t really want or need. All of that work made the space so much more functional. There was still work to do, though, and that became even more obvious as we were packing up almost 80 orders for the online shop. We were tripping over things and the tape was in one place and bubble wrap in another and boxes were everywhere.
So, we bought some more wire shelving, cleared out a lot of trash and things to take to the thrift store and fine tuned the organization. I think this space will be ever-evolving as things are bought and sold and made over, but I feel like we’re creating space for that to happen in a more intentional way. It’s not glamorous work, but it felt great to accomplish a lot, knowing it would make work more efficient. I must admit to lingering down there this evening…sitting on the steps, soaking in all we had done. I’m hoping to get to some fun projects next week and maybe even start some trim work tomorrow.
Since basements aren’t fun to look at, I thought I would share pictures of a beautiful piece of French ironstone that one of my readers sent me. I have the sweetest, most generous readers…in case there was any doubt about that! One reader, who shares a love of ironstone, found this piece and thought I would like it. She didn’t know what it is and I don’t, either, so I thought I would ask. (I know my readers are clever and resourceful as well!)
It’s a little larger than a tea cup…maybe about the size of a small gravy boat and it’s oval in shape. It has two spouts on either end and two handles. One of the spouts is meant to pour from the bottom while the other from the top.
So, maybe it’s a gravy boat? Maybe for a special sauce that separates, so you need the two different styles of spout? Maybe a baby/invalid feeder because of the two handles? Any other guesses? Or has someone seen one of these pieces before?
Well, whatever it is, it’s ironstone and it’s from France, so what’s not to love?
I got another fun piece of mail earlier this week from Joss & Main. Another sweet reader spotted this wooden horse in one of their sales and I had enough credits for it, so I snagged it. I’m going to paint it, of course, to make it my own, but I like the shape a lot.
And lastly, I do have many more things to list in the online shop and hope to list a few each day, so keep an eye on it. I have been letting followers on Facebook know when new items are being listed if you want to try to catch something. Here’s a preview of some things that will be listed soon…
I’m also making a date with a lady who’s been “picking” a bunch of ironstone for me and she just sent pictures of her most recent haul. It’s some good stuff, girls! And I’m going to be selling more stuff I’ve used for photo shoots like mercury glass candle sticks, typewriters, small rugs, wire baskets, pedestals…lots of stuff.
55 Responses
and all of these ebay listings call it a gravy boat too!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271263362147?lpid=82
It is a gravy boat. It is made to seperate the oils/grease that floats on the top, with the actual broth. Great tool to reduce fat in cooking or in serving .
I have one of those too!! It’s a gravy boat/ fat and lean separator.
Gravy separator. Allow you to have a thicker or thinner gravy/sauce.
Wow! Once again you’ve been super busy! I love your sweet french ironstone vessel – and I’m just guessing here, but is it for au jus? My Nanny had a special glass cup with a spout that came from the bottom and a spout at the top. If she wanted the fat to make a roux for gravy, she poured from the top, but when she wanted the natural juices with no fat, she poured form the bottom. I remember her using it for beef and turkey most. Just a guess, but I can’t wait to hear what other have in mind!
Pillivuyt is still being made but it is porcelain. “Made in France by Pillivuyt, a company respected for fine porcelain tableware since 1818.” Pillivuyt and Apilco porcelain are available at Williams-Sonoma (and other places). Revol porcelain is available at Sur La Table (and other places). All French made, all beautiful and I would love to have bunches!! I found a pristine piece of Revol at a thrift store for a song. Then bought a few pieces at full retail. It’s an investment for sure. Also, now interested in ironstone. 🙂
It’s a gravy boat. It separates the fat from the gravy. Meat juice gravy made after finishing roasting, not a cream type Swedish ‘gravy’ sauce. We have them here in GB.
Yes, I have the same gravy boat that I use every Thanksgiving for the fatty turkey juice that is so good on mashed potatoes!
I was always told that these are baby or invalid feeders. My mother in laws neighbor collected these and had a china cabinet with well over 100 displayed. She said she lost count after 100, so she really had no idea how many she really had as she also had boxes of them in the spare room. All were different patterns (some matching famous china patterns) and slightly different shapes. A very pretty and unusual collection.
no
I looked at something like this eBay and it was called a “sippy cup”.
It separates/skims the fat from the gravy. You pour from one side to get the bottom juices and the other for the “fat” juices.
it’s a gravy separator. A pap feeder has only one slip long spout (looks like a Genie lamp) with a handle at one end for the nurse AND less of an opening to avoid spills…………..
You are so right about what Pap feeders look like. I have a collection of six of them …..they’re getting harder to find. I can’t imagine the lady who had over a hundred of them! Wow! It is a fun side collection to my large antique/vintage baby things. 🙂
Meda Branwell
My first guess was gravy separator. Second guess, egg separator. Sara
Funny thing about that piece of ironstone – I also have one, and have always used it on the Christmas breakfast table (for syrup) with my son-in-law, who is left-handed. 😉
Here it is on replacements . com
Gravy Separator in the Culinaire White pattern by Pillivuyt
I agree with Kathy, no commented at 4:58am 2/8, …As a nurse, I’m pretty sure it’s an invalid feeder. The handles are on each side so you can stand on either side of the patient, hold the head and tip the vessel for the patient. Straws were the end of Invalid Feeders…I would say this one is from the ‘upper crust’…most of what I’ve found are more earthenware and of course enamelware (survives better than anything else)…I have one that I believe you would really appreciate…it’s a gorgeous flow-blue with some delicious beige tones that have crept under the crazing in the finish…It was a gift from my SIL & brother and I LUV IT!…Of course, being an ironstone lover too, I wouldn’t mind that one (hint, hint…but oh, it was a gift, hmmm guess not)…anyway, I feel pretty confident that it’s an Invalid Feeder.
I have a gravy separator similar to yours. Mine says fat and lean on the appropriate side. Very nice to find one in ironstone. Enjoy it.
What a nice gravy boat! I had a Pope Gosser double spouted gravy boat that was made like yours. After finding many articles explaining the reason for double spouts, I was finally convinced by an old article that said that the two spouts on the boat allowed for pouring from either end (port or starboard), easing and lessening the handling of the hot bowl when passing the boat to guests at the table. If the piece had a lip on one end (like an “ice lip” on a pitcher), then the lip end of the boat would also serve as a separator for fat in the gravy. Such a pretty piece!
After reading all these comments my guess would be it started off being a gravy boat then made itself into the invalids world via very creative nurses …?
It is a gravy boat. The invalid feeder is longer and a little slimmer than the gravy boat.
Since its small, I was thinking it was for milk/cream in a tea set. Cream would rise to the top and milk would pour from the bottom?
I agree with you, Elisha. Because of the small volume, it would hold just enough fresh milk for tea time. And in the brief interval during which the tea brewed and the table was set, the cream would rise to the top. Of course, it is likely that manufacturers labeled this same item as a saucière, so it would serve double duty in the kitchen. It’s beautiful!
Its a meat dripping fat separator for people that still cling to the myth that animal fats are deadly and artery clogging.
I found EXACTLY the same thing at a local thrift store, and I didn’t get it because I had no idea what it was. I’d LOVE to know what that is for!
And is it supposed to come with or without a lid/cover??
It looks like a neti pot; however, I’m pretty sure gravy boat is correct.
That would be the fanciest neti pot ever!
C en effet une sauciere pour separer le gras du maigre
I know exactly what it is – it’s an invalid feeder. Many people collect them. I went to an estate sale not long ago where the woman had a collection of several hundred. I think they are rather neat. They come in all sort of different styles, patters, colors, etc. They usually do not have covers.
Since Im not the cook in my home, I asked my husband who is sure it’s for gravy on one side removing fat from the other. I don’t have one, but I think my husband would.
It is a fat separator! I have one.
And they really do work.
It looks like an invalid feeder to me.
As many have said before – It is a separator, you put all the juices from you roast in this and pour it – so you are left with the meat juice and the oil (fat) is added to a roasting pan for you to roast potatoes in the oven . I have one also.
Yes, I agree with Kathy and several of the others that it is most likely an invalid feeder. I have a flow blue one and just love it. A wonderful find!
My mother had one and she used it as an egg separator. On one end she poured out the white, then slipped the yolk out the other. It worked great for that, even if was created for gravy!
It is a gravy separator !
Marian: No I have no idea what the ironstone piece is but it is a great piece of holloware for display.
Congrats on the work in your basement. I loved hearing you were just sitting on the stairs enjoying it. I do that all the time when I have done work in a room just for the fun of it.
{{HUGS}}
Joy
It is definitely a gravy/fat separator. You can buy modern versions of this is most good kitchen shops….altho today made of plastic or glass. You can also use it for clarifying butter. Hang onto this piece forever. It is gorgeous! Nancy
PS Do you ship to Australia?
Hello Miss Mustard Seed,
It’s called a “saucier gras/maigre” in French. it is used at table, each one can choose
from low fat on one side or heavy sauce on the other. Hope you understand my
English !
Anne from France
It is for serving gravy. What comes out of the spout is without the fat, because the spout fills from the bottom, leaving the fat on top and out of the spout. … jan
Hi Marion, As all the others have said, it’s a gravy separator. I have one and it’s use is what every one is saying. My Mom liked he gravy on the lean side so it worked quite well for her. Your’s is more beautiful than mine though.
This is definitely a gravy boat/ separator as so many have described. It is definitely NOT an invalid feeder or sick cup. I have over 200 feeders which I’ve been told is one of the largest collections in the US. While some do have two or three handles, many only have one and most of those are the elongated type. Those with two or three handles are usually round and look almost like little tea pots without a lid. They usually have a half-cover that is molded on to keep the liquid/gruel from spilling onto the patient.
I have the gravy boat/separator identical to yours. It was great serving my family as we were the Jack Sprat-type. Mother and Daddy loved the fat while the children wanted none.
As so many people already said, it’s a gravy boat with one side for lean and one side for fat gravy. Sometimes, under the spout is a “g” for “gras” (fat) and a “m” for “maigre” (lean). They are very common in France and some people collect only those gravy boats. Pillivuyt is a company that has been active from 1818, but I can’t tell you how old is your piece from the mark you showed, sorry!
Magali
Hello! I am following you from France where your gravy boat is coming from. This is called in french “saucière” and is made to serve the sauce during the meal. One side for griddy persons who like to eat thomething fat and the other side taking the sauce deeper into the boat for women likes us who prefer to remain thin. We have lot of different sorts, somme with beautiful pictures but it now old fashion because quite difficult to clean. Sorry for my bad english
I believe it’s a gravy separator.
It’s to seperate tge oil from the gravy.
Since everybody seems to have an opinion about the intended purpose of your little ironstone piece and I really have no idea I won’t say anything about that.
But….. I want to say….I can relate to you taking the time to sit on your stairs to look just look at your basement and all you had accomplished down there. I do the same thing….no matter what room….I just love to sit in it and bask in all that satisfaction! I would love to see the boring pictures of the basement! 🙂
I just finished reading the book entitled ” Home to Walnut Ridge” and was delighted to read about Miss Mustard Seed paints included in the story. It was such a fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I need to get our basement organized! I believe it is a gravy separator ( strainer) or a very big neti pot, giggle. Hugs
It’s gravy vessel ! I’ve the same from my grand mother… fnench she was!!!
the separator it’s to filter as we may say, the sauce with or without fat for example!! or if the sauce has bits of vegetables and some one doesn’ like!! french finesse!!!
invalid feeder
Except that it had 2 spouts… Must be small gravy separator
Yes, it is a Saucière – especially useful for roasted chicken – collect all the bottom juices (drippings) and pour into Saucière. Guests can either use the fatter juices or just the lean.